How Can We

Chapter Twelve

"Ollie took me."

"Good." The conversation took an awkward turn. He knew what happened, she knew what happened, and they both knew what she was there for, however, none of them could acknowledge it.

It was after a minute's silence that Artemis decided to put on her big girl pants. "I don't want to explain what happened and since you already know I need your advice on what to do."

"I think you should talk to Wally, it's the only way you'll actually fix things between you guys."

"What should I say?" She asked nervously, playing with the edge of her sweater.

'I can't give you all the answers Artemis." Dick smiled.

"Thanks Dick." She had another question on the tip of her tongue. Was Wally still angry with her? Upset? She was eager to know but realized how her friend would perceive that question. Frankly, she was annoyed whenever someone made the insinuation that they liked each other, it was so far off from the truth.

"Anytime Artemis, remember I'm always here for you."

**

The next day at school Artemis felt ready to approach Wally and talk about their dreaded feelings. It took her a whole day to muster up the courage.

Part of her just wanted to leave things the way there were. Part of here didn't see the point in trying to patch things up between her and Wally. They were barely friends, she could go along with the rest of her life as normal and not feel a thing about what could have been.

Still, she found herself walking by his first period classroom. She recognized him by his hair from a distance. It was only when she got closer that she realized he wasn't alone. He was flirting with that blonde Jesse from the track team, the one she warned him about.

He was leaning against the wall next to her, his face inches away from hers and his eyes glistening. She was laughing about something he said, her arms pushing his chest. A textbook example of flirting.

Artemis took one good look at them before storming off to her own class wondering why the image of the two of them brought her so much rage.

She just told herself that it was a way for him to get back at her, since she gave him a reason not to be with Jesse.

***

Her first instinct was to go back to archery and release her brustration by aiming at a target she imagined to be Wally's face. Then she remembered that she was banned from archery for the next week. While it inferiorited her to no end, she understood their reasoning.

She had to give that tournament her all to beat Roy.

Instead she immersed herself in her schoolwork as a productive distraction. She made it through the school day without seeing Wally. Part of it was her own doing, she spent her lunch period in the library, falling into old habits.

By the end of the day she decided enough was enough and went to confront him on the track field. She stayed through the entire practice, watching on the sidelines as Wally ran laps with the rest of his team.

He was faster than anyone on the team, passing them all easily. He didn't even look to be breaking a sweat even after running a few laps. He sure was a natural.

And for some reason it brought Artemis comfort knowing he was doing much better than Jesse "Quick"

*

Artemis caught up to him as he was walking back to the building. He seemed to be expecting her.

"Hey." She said quietly.

"Dick said you wanted to talk?" Wally questioned, although he knew the answer. Artemis nodded a second later, suddenly getting nervous.

"Good, because I have something I want to say too." She looked at him in surprise.

"I want to go first if you don't mind." Artemis told him. Wally motioned for her to go on. "I'm sorry for almost hitting you in the face with my arrow. What you were trying to do was sweet and I shouldn't have refused your help." It took a lot for Artemis to apologize to him.

"And I'm sorry for calling you pathetic. I was out of line, and so far off. I was just trying to look out for you since you're my friend, and friends look out for each other."

"Are we good?" She asked him.

"Of course Arty." It was then that she knew things between them were going to be ok.

"Just so you know, I'm not all to great with friends." Artemis admitted.

"I figured." He smiled down at her. In a rare moment, she showed some affection and smiled genuinely at him.

"Can I hug you?" He asked her wearily. Artemis shocked both of them by nodded, and Wally wasted no time in pulling her into him. She sighed into his chest because it felt so right and that scared her.

The fact that they were only friends made her heart sink.